Respirator.



J. A. BRITTON.

RESPIRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-8.1915.

Patented Aug. 2-1, 1915.

JAMES A. BRITTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, A

ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RESPIRATOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 242, 1915.

Application filed March 8, 1915. Serial No. 12,745.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES A. BRITTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Respirators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to respirators.

In almost every large factory there is some process in which it is impossible to properly protect the workman from the inhalation of injurious dust without covering his mouth and nose with some sort of respirator. Indeed, in many States of the Union, there are laws requiring that adequate and approvedrespirators shall be furnished and maintained by the employer in good condition and without cost to the employees. Many types of respirators have been made which, however, are entirely unsatisfactory from the workmans point of view. That is to say, such objectionable respirators are uncomfortable, make the face sore, prevent conversation, difiicult to keep clean. expensive, and, if properly sterilized every day, will last only a short time.

It therefore is the main object of my invention to provide a respirator which will overcome the above mentioned objectionable features.

Another object of my invention is to provide a respirator which is adapted to meet all of the requirements for successful com mercial usage.

These objects are accomplished by providing a respirator made of suitable fabric folded and stitched in a manner to provide suitable portions for the nose and mout which will prevent the inhalation of dust and at the same time be comfortable and which will not seriously interfere with or prevent conversation.

The invention is illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic and somewhat perspective view of my improved respirator; and Figs. 2 and 3 indicate the manner in which the respirator is placed over the nose and mouth and retained in proper adjusted position.

The various novel features of my invenrtially half of the length of tion will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

This respirator 10 preferably consists in a substantially rectangular piece of surgical gauze, the upper part of which is provided with centrally and oppositely arranged folds 11 and 12. The folds extend substanthe piece of fabric and flare outwardly and downwardly at the central portion of the piece of fabric, as shown at 13. The folds are located on opposite sides of a longitudinal median line 14, and are made by pinching up portions of the fabric on opposite sides of this median line and folding the pinched-up portions to ward the median line. In so doing a pocket 15 is formed for the reception of the nose. The folds are held fixed at definite points 16 and 17 along their lengths by being stitched. One line of stitching 18 follows the contour of the upper edge of the fabric, crossing the folds 11 and 12 in a transverse direction. The other lines of stitching 19 take a looped path from the extreme ends of the upper line stitching 18, crossing the folds 11 and 12 transversely some little distance below the first line of stitching 18. In this manner the pocket for the nose. is formed and retained between the upper and lower lines of stitchings 18 and 19. The pocket 15 might be called a bulged portion, a similar bulged portion being formed directly below the lower line of stitching 19, giving space for the proper movement of the lips to make speaking an easy matter without any interference. It will be noted that the pocket for the nose and the bulged portion for the mouth are yieldable so that said parts may conform readily to the shape of the nose and mouth. When the respirator is properly adjusted to the face, the nose and mouth will be completely inclosed, comfortably so, in a manner to compel breathing through the respirator and not around it. The respirator is held to the face by suitable yielding bands 20 and 21, at the ends of which are provided suitable fasteners which permit the fabric to be readily replaced-when one has been soiled. It will be noted that theupper holding band 20 is secured to the However, a

fabric along the lower line of stitching to securely hold the respirator between the oughly protect the nose. The lower band 21 is secured to the fabric of the respirator below the mouth to hold the respirator in a position to prevent the passage of dust into the mouth. a

This form of respirator is comfortable, can readily be replaced, is inexpensive, compels breathing through the respirator and not around it, permits talking without difliculty, and is a perfect air filter. Experiments have proven that four layers of this gauze are suflicient to meet the requirements. greater number may be *used if it is desired.

, It is evident that there may be modificatlons of my invention as hereinoshown and it is my intention to cover all such modifications which do not involve a departure from its spirit and scope.-

at I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

respirator consisting in a' piece of fabric, cooperating folds formed therein by lapping the fabric to form a nose-pocket.

respirator consisting in apiece of fabric, cooperating folds formed therein by lapping the fabric to form a nose-pocket, and means for maintaining the laps at certain points.

3. A respirator consisting in a piece of fabr c, cooperating folds formed therein by lapping the same to form a nose-pocket, and means for holding the laps to render the pocket portion yieldable.

respirator consisting in a piece of fabric, folds formed in the central portion thereof by lapping the fabric and stitching the same to form a pocket for the nose.

5. A resplrator consisting in a piece of fabric having the upper central portion thereof oppositely folded by lapping in opposite directions to form a pocket for the nose.

6. A respirator "consisting in .a piece of fabric, a nose-pocket formed therein by lapping the central portion thereof in different directions and securing said lapped portion at certain points.

respirator consisting in a piece of fabric, folds formed therein by lapping the fabric oppositely with respect to a central point and stitching the same to form a pocket for the nose.

8. A respirator consisting in a piece of flexible and porous fabric, opposite folds formed therein by lapping the fabric and stitching the same at a plurality of points to form a dust-tight inclosure for the respiratory passages of the nose and mouth. A respiraton consisting in. a piece of flexible and porous fabric, folds formed therein by lapping the fabric and stitching the same to form a nose-pocket, the stitching falling above and below the point of the nose to insure a dust-tight inclosure."

10. A respirator consisting in a piece of flexible and porous fabric, oppositely arranged folds formed therein by lapping the fabric and stitching the same at two points whereby separate bulging portions for the nose and mouth are formed.

11. A respirator consisting in a piece of flexible and porous fabric, oppositely arranged folds formed therein by lapping the fabric and stitching the same at two points whereby separate bulging portions for the nose and mouth are stitched points being located to fall between the nose and mouth, the folds flaring outwardly therefrom.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

v JAMES A. BRITTON. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. BYRON, O. M. OBERBECK'.

formed, one of said 

